PAD selectors do not work for JavaScript generated sites

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Posted on by dsibenik

Hi,

Our client is migrating their processes from ProcessRobot to Power Automate.

One of the processes involves interacting with a web portal which generates its elements (it is not a static page).

Even though the selector is correct (and it worked with PR) and the element exists, PAD can't find it.

It seems as though PAD loaded the page as it is initially and cached it, and in the moment of clicking it cannot find the selector on the page.

Trying to add another selector does not show the page elements on hover as well.

Is there a way around this, as we do not want to use 'Use JavaScript On Webpage' action, as it is hacky?

Kind regards,

Davor

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Power Automate Desktop

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fraenK 2,125 on at

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Sounds like a page loaded state issue?

It seems PAD is not very good in detecting that the page has been fully loaded and is trying to access an element which doesn't exist yet.

So I would add a check if the element/text exists before trying to access it...

Maybe this helps? Can you post an example of your flow?

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dsibenik 4 on at

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Hi, thanks for the response!

The template/flow is just
1. Focus Browser (or Open browser on page)
2. Click a button

It doesn't work after putting wait for 2 minutes or after loading the page, and putting the first action 'Open Existing browser', so it is not a loading issue.

PAD just doesn't recognize the site elements, even after loading, it shows the first initial version.

The code worked on Softomotive tho, so something has to have changed.

Kind regards,
Davor

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fraenK 2,125 on at

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Then the website might have changed and you'll need to adapt the selector.

If it is a browser cache is use, clear or disable it.

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dsibenik 4 on at

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Unfortunately the website hasn't changed, I run the same code in PAD and in Winautomation, one works - the other doesn't.

The same is with incognito windows, so it's not a browser cache issue, it must be a bug in PAD.

Clueless how to fix it, it must be a bug.

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fraenK 2,125 on at

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Please check the selector for the element! Can you post an example?

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